Wheel Size

Bicycle wheels come in a wide range of sizes from 12" wheels found on smaller Kids Bikes to larger 29" Mountain Bike and 700c Road Bike wheels. Larger wheels are normally faster and more stable at speed and their larger contact patch improves grip too. Smaller wheels are normally lighter, more manoeuvrable and have quicker acceleration.

Wheel sizes are defined by the country that first popularised the style of bike that used them - so you'll see some imperial and some metric measurements listed. Wiggle includes the ISO standard in brackets after each for ease of comparison.

Schwalbe

For over 70 years Schwalbe have dominated the two wheeled tyre industry in Germany and Europe, being voted best MTB tyre brand in Germany for the past two years. From the very early beginnings where the company founder, Earnest-Wilhelm Bohle capitalised on the developing cycle industry, to the ultra modern distribution facility near Cologne, Schwalbe have continued to design and manufacture some of the finest bicycle tyres available. Schwalbe's success is due in part to the effort it makes in product development from lab tests at the manufacturing facility to the hardest proving grounds of all, professional cycle racing. 'Team Gerolsteiner' achieved a very creditable 7th place overall in the 2004 Tour de France and the unique performance of team captain Davide Rebellin winning three major classic races back to back using Schwalbe tyre. Other notable succeses include Normann Stadler winning the infamous Ironman triathlon in Hawaii, riding Schwalbe Stelvio tyres.